Plug- cluster



Sept. 16. 1924. 1,508,767 R. B. BENJAMIN ET AL PLUG CLUSTER Filed may '18, 1921 3 Sheets-Shoat 1 Sept. 16 1924.

. 1,508,767 R. B. BENJAMIN ET AL PLUG CLUSTER Filed May 18, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 1924' R. B. BENJAMIN ET AL PLUG cLus'rniR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Bay 18, 1921 Patented Sept. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. IBENJALVIIN, OF CHICAGO, AND CHESTER E. OF BERWYISI, ILLI- more,

. SSIGNORS TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 01: CHI-- GAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION Q1 ILLINOIS,

PLUG- CLUSTER.

Application filed May 18, 1921.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we. Rnunnn B. BENJA- MIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and 5 State ot Illinois, and CHESTER E. TVAR'NER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at llerwyn, in the county 01": Cook and State of lfllinois, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Plug Clusters, of 10 which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accoi'npanyinp drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to plug clusters.

@ne of the objects of our invention is to provide a plug cluster which can be used in combination with a. shade in such manner to secure a compact construction.

A further object of our invention is to 20 provide a plug cluster for use in combina tion with a shade in which a compact construction is secured and the lamp is so sup ported that its axis is parallel to the axis of the plug but offset with respect thereto. 25 A further object of our invention is to provide a compact plug cluster which will be simple in construction and durable and eilicient in use.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow and from the appended claims.

In the drawings in which several embodiments of our invention are shown-- Fig: 1 is a side elevation of a plug cluster;

Fig. 2 is an axial section of the plug cluster shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. is a bottom view of a positioning and finishingmember;

Fig. 4: is a disassembled perspective view showin the insulating base and spacer;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig.

Serial No. 470,563.

Fig. 11 is an axial sectional view showing another form of plug cluster;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an axial sectional view showing still another form of plug cluster; and v in. 1a is a perspective view showing a combined conductor and center contact member of Fig. 13.

Referring to F 1 to 5 inclusive, the construction shown therein comprises a plug cluster 10, which is screwed into a socket 11 the socket 11 being provided with a shade holder 12 for supporting the shade 13.

The plug cluster comprises the plug portion 14-, and the receptacle portion 15. An insulating spacing, positioning, and supporting member 16 is provided between the plug portion 14L and the receptacle portion serving to insulate the parts and support them in their proper relative position.

The receptacle portion 15, the insulating: spacer 16, and the plug portion 14: are secured together by means of a central screw 17, which extends through registering openings in the center contact 18, plug portion lt, and spacer portion 16, and is threaded into a sheet metal stamping 19, which supports the two threaded shell receptacle contacts 20. The lower threaded shell contact is supported and insulated from the stamping 19 by means of an insulating fibre washer 21. on which the inwardly extending flange of the threaded shell contact 20 is secured. The end of the stamping 19 extends through an opening: in the insulating fibre washer 21 and bent over to hold the washer in place and to form a center contact for the receptacle;

The threaded shell contact 20 is supported and insulated from the stamping 19 by means oi? a pair of insulating fibre washers 28 between which the inwardly extending flange of the threaded shell contact is clamped. The insulating washers 23 and threaded shell contact 20 are held on the stamping 19 by means of a rivet 24 which also serves as a center contact for the upper receptacle portion. The upper threaded shell receptacle contact 20 is electrically con-. nected with the threaded shell contact 25 of the plug portion by means oi. a sheet metal Sta p g 26, the pp r end f wh h is beat over to engage the inwardly extending flange of the plug shell contact 25, and the other end of which is clamped by the upper fibre washer 23 against the inwardly extending flange of the receptacle shell contact 20. The lower receptacle shell contact 20 is electrically connected with the upper shell contact and held in position with respect thereto by means of a small rivet 27. For insulating the lower shell receptacle contact 20, an insulating fibre sleeve or cup 28 is provided which surrounds the threaded shell contact. For insulating the upper threaded shell contact 20 a short insulating fibre sleeve 29 is provided; An ornamental finishing sleeveof sheet metal is provided to surround the insulating sleeve 28.

For positioning the threaded shell contacts 20, a'sheet metal stamping 31 is provided (Fig. 3) having an inwardly extending conical seating portion or flange 32, and an outwardly extending cylindrical flange 33. 'The inwardly extending flange 32 fits in a iQorrespondi-n'gly shaped seating portion 33 of the insulating spacer 16. The outwardlyextending cylindrical flange portion 33 surrounds the insulating fibre sleeve 29 to give a finished effect thereto.

In assembly, the entire receptacle portion,

including the threadedshell contact 20, the sheet metal stamping 19, the insulating washers 21 and 23, the fibre sleeves 28 and 29, and the sheet metal stamping 31 are assembledas a unit, and are then secured in position with respect to the spacer portion 16 by means. of the central screw 17.

For insulating the plug contacts 18 and 25 from each other, and supporting them in proper relative position, an insulating base 3%1 is provided (Fig. 4). For securing the proper relative position of the insulating spacer 16 and the insulating base '34, the

spacer 16. is provided with a pair of upwardly extending lugs 35, which engage a corresponding recess 36 in the insulating base 34. I

Referring to Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, the construction shown therein comprises a plug cluster 10 having a plug portion 14, and a receptacle portion 15*. An insulating spacing, supporting and positioning member 16 is Cprovided between the plug portion 14 an the receptacle portion 15, serving to insulate the parts and supporting them in their proper relative position.

The receptacle portion 15, the insulating spacer 16 and the plug portion 14* are secured together by a central screw 17, which also serves to electrically connect the center contact 1 8" of the plug 14? with the center contacts 19 of the receptacle portion 15*; For electrically connecting the shell contact 20? of the lug portion with the shell con tacts 21f oi the receptacle portion, a sheet eta st mpin s 7 n P vided, this stamping having its upper end bent over at 23 for engagement with the inwardly extending flange on the lower edge of the plug shell contact 20-, and having a pair of openings 2 1 for connection with eyelet portions 25 formed integral with the threaded shell receptacle contacts 21 (Figs. 8 and 10).

The mechanical and electrical connection between the central screw 17 and the receptacle center contacts 19 is effected by means of a sheet metal stamping 26 into which thescrew 17 is threaded, this stamping 26 being provided with openings through which extend the eyelet members which form the center contacts 19 for the receptacle portions 15 These center contacts 19 not only serve as center contacts for the receptacle portion, but also serve to mechanically connect the threaded shell receptacle contacts 21 and support them. Each of these eyelets extend through a pair of insulating sheet fibre washers 27 between is provided with two conical seating sur faces 3O and 31 (Fig. 8) against which the upper edges of the fibre sleeve 28 and upper conical portions 32 of the threaded shell contact 21 are drawn, these parts being held in seating engagement by being drawn up snugly by means of the screw 17.

The insulating base 34 for the plug contacts 1-8 and 20 may be the samo as in the form previously described.

In assembling the device, the receptacle portion 15 including the threaded shell contact 21 the center Contact 19, the stamping 26, the fibre shells 28, and the finishing sleeve 29 is first asscmblcd as a unit, and then placed in position with respect to the insulating spacer 16", the stamping 22" being inserted through a passage in the spacer 16 and the end of this stamping being bent over the inwardly extending flange of the plug shell contact- 20*". The base 34; is then placed inside the plug shell contact 20", the

is offset with respect thereto so that a construction is thusprovided by which a plug cluster can be used inside a shade of usual appearance, and in which the lamp will be supported with its axis parallel to the axis of the shade, and in. which provision is made for another connection.

The construction shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is quite similar to the construction just described, but differs with respect to the way the receptacle shell contacts 36 are secured in position, and in that separate conductor strips 37 and 38 lead from the plug shell contact 20 to the receptacle shell contacts 36. The threaded shell contacts 36 are secured in place by means of a piece of insulating sheet fibre 39, which is scored and bent at 40, and the edges of which engage underneath the flanges of the shell contacts 36 This piec of fibre 39 is secured to a sheet metal stamping ll by means of the center contact members 42. The central screw 17 is threaded into this stamping 4-1 to secure all Of the parts on. the plug cluster together. As in the form. previously described the receptacle shell contacts 36 are provided with insulating sleeves or cups 43 and with finishing housing members 44. The method of assembly is substantially the same as in the form previously described, the receptacle shell contacts 36, the fibre member 39, the center contacts 42, the stamping ll, the insulating sleeves 43 and the finishing housings 4st being assembled together as a unit, and the parts then secured together by placing them in proper position and inserting the screw 17 and screwing it into the stamping ll to draw the parts firmly together.

The construction shown in Figs. 18 and let is quite similar to the construction shown in Figs. 11. and 12. In this construction, the threaded shell contact 36 the conductor members 37 and 38, the fibre sleeves 43, and the finishing sleeve a l, may be the same as in Figs. 8 and 9. The threaded shell contacts 36 the insulating sleeve 43 and finishing casing a l are mounted on a piece of insulating sheet fibre/l5 which is creased and bent at .116. This mounting member 4-5 is secured to a sheet metal stamping 47 into which the central screw 1.? is screwed. This metal stamping l-i not only serves as a supporting bracket but is provided also with center contact portions 48, which hook around bridge portions 49 of the mounting member 45.

In assembling the threaded shell contacts 36, mounting member 41-5, and stamping 47, the mounting member 45 is placed in position with its edges engaging underneath the flanges of the threaded shell contact, and the stamping 47 is then inserted through the open end of one of the threaded shell content one of its ends inserted, through the registering openings 50 in the threaded shell contacts, and the bent portion 51 of the stamping is then inserted through the cut out portion oil the mounting member 49 adjacent the crease or bend 46 to bring the center contacts l8 in position to our brace the bridge portions 49. The method of assembly of the receptacle portion, the spacer portion and the plug portion is the same as in the form previously described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A plug cluster comprising a plug portion and two receptacle portions, said plug portion comprising a threaded shell contact, one oil said receptacle portions cornprising a threaded shell contact, the axles of said shell contacts being parallel but ofifset with respect to each other less than the radius olthe threaded shell contact, the axes of: said two receptacle portions meeting at an acute angle.

2. A plug cluster coniiprising a plug portion, and two receptacle portions, said plug portion comprising a threaded shell. contact, and each of said receptacle portions comprising a threaded shell contact, the axis of one of said receptacle shell contacts being parallel to the axis of the plug shell contact but oilset with respect thereto less than the radius of the threaded shell contact, the axes of said receptacle shell contacts meeting at an acute angle.

3. A plug cluster comprising a plug portion and two receptacle portions, said plug portion comprising a threaded shell. contact, each receptacle portion comprising a center contact and a threaded shell contact, and a conductor strap electrically connecting all three of said. threaded shell contacts, said conductor strap having two openings therein, each of said receptacle threaded shell contacts having an eyelet portion extending into one of said openings.

l. A plug cluster comprising a plug por-- tion, two receptacle portions, and an inter mediate integral insulating supporting and positioning member of molded material, each of said receptacle portions comprising a threaded shell contact, one oi said threaded shell receptacle contacts being located within said insulating spacer member and the other being located substantially outside said insulating spacer nien'ibcr, said plug portion comprising a threaded shell contact, the axis of one of said receptacle shell contacts being parallel to the axis of the plug shell contacts and offset with respect thereto less than the radius of the threaded shell contact, and the axes of said receptacle shell contacts meeting at an acute angle.

5. A multiway plug comprising a plug portion, a receptacle sub-assembly, and an insulating spacer between said plug portion comprising a pair of securing members eX- tending through said openings respectively, and a screw extending through said plug portion and spacer, and secured to said anchorage and conducting member.

6. A multiway plug comprising a plug portion, a receptacle sub-assembly, and an insulating spacer between said plug portion ing member, said metal conducting member 7 and receptacle sub-assembly, said receptacle sub-assembly comprising (1) two receptacle shell contacts, (2) a metal conducting member electrically connecting said shell contacts, (3) an anchorage and conducting member on which said shell contacts are mounted, said metal conducting member having a pair of openings therethru, and (4:) means for mounting said shell contacts on said anchorage and conducting member, and supplying current to the devices inserted into the receptacle, comprising a pair of securing members extending through said openings respectively, and a screwextending through said plug portion and spacer and secured to said anchorage and conducting member. 7

7. A multi-way plug comprising a plug portion, a receptacle sub-assembly, and an insulating spacer between said plug portion and receptacle sub-assembly, said receptacle sub-assembly comprising (1) two receptacle shell contacts, (2) a metal conducting member electrically connecting said shell contacts, (3) an anchorage and conducting member on which said shell contacts are mounted, (4t) insulating means between said anchorage member and said metal conducthaving a pair of openings therethru, and

(5) means for mounting said shell contacts on said anchorage and conducting members comprising a pair of securing members extending through said openings respectively, and a screw extending thru said plug )ortion and spacer and secured to said anchorage and conducting member.

8. A multi-way plug comprising a plug portion, a receptacle sub-assembly, and an insulating spacer between said plug portion and receptacle sub-assembly, said receptacle'sub-assembly comprising (1) two receptacle shell contacts, a metal conducting member electric-ally connecting said shell contacts, (3) an anchorage and conducting member on which said shell contacts are mounted, (4) insulating means between said anchorage member and said metal conducting member, said metal conducting member having a pair of openings therethru, and (5) means for mounting said shell contacts on said anchorage and conducting members comprising a pair of securing members extending through said openings respectively, and a screw extending thru said plug portion and spacer and secured to said anchorage and conducting member, said insulating means comprising a pair of insulating buttons.

9. A plug cluster comprising a plug portion, and two receptacle portions, said plug portion comprising a threaded shell contact, and each of said receptacle portions comprising a threaded shell contact one of which is spaced from said plug shell contact and the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the plug shell contact but oifset with respect thereto less than the radius of the threaded shell contact, the axes of said ieceptacle shell contacts meeting at an acute angle, the inner end of the non-parallel receptacle shell contact extending into the space between the other receptacle shell contact and the plug shell contact,

In witnesses whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. CHESTER E. VARNER. 

